Part 25

The captivity of the king and his two accomplices lasted six months. The Lutheran preachers had swarmed about him and buzzed in his ears, and the poor wretch believed that by yielding a few points he could save his life. He offered to labour along with Melchior Hoffmann, to bring the numerous Anabaptists in Friesland, Holland, Brabant, and Flanders into submission, if he were given his liberty; but finding that the preachers had been giving him false hopes and leading him into recantations, he refused to see them again, and awaited his execution in sullen despair.

The pastors failing to convert the Anabaptists, and finding that the sectaries used against them scripture and private judgment with such efficacy that they were unable in argument to overcome them, called upon the princes to exterminate them by fire and sword.

The gentle Melancthon wrote a tract or letter to urge the princes on; it was entitled, "Das weltliche Oberkeiten den Widerteuffern mit leiblicher straffe zu wehren schüldig sey. Etlicher bedenken zu Wittemberg gestellet durch Philip Melancthon, 1536. Ob Christliche Fürsten schüldig sind der Widerteuffer unchristlicher Sect mit leiblicher straffe und mit dem schwert zu wehren." He enumerates the doctrines of the unfortunate sectarians at Münster and elsewhere, and then he says that it is the duty of all princes and nobles to root out with the sword all heresy from their dominions; but then, with this proviso, they must first be instructed out of God's Word by the pure reformed Church what doctrines are heretical, that they may only exterminate those who differ from the Lutheran communion.

He then quotes to the Protestant princes the example of the Jewish kings: "The kings in the Old Testament, not only the Jewish kings, but also the converted heathen kings, judged and killed the false prophets and unbelievers. Such examples show the office of princes. As Paul says, the law is good that blasphemers are to be punished. The government is not to rule men for their bodily welfare, so much as for God's honour, for they are God's ministers; let them remember that and value their office."

But it is argued on the other side that it is written, "Let both grow together till the harvest. Now this is not spoken to the temporal power," says Melancthon, "but to the preachers, that they should not use physical power under the excuse of their office. From all this it is plain that the worldly government is bound to drive away blasphemy, false doctrine, heresies, and to punish in their persons those who hold to these things.... Let the judge know that this sect of Anabaptists is from the devil, and as a prudent preacher instructs different stations how they are to conduct themselves, as he teaches a wife that to breed children is to please God well, so he teaches the temporal authorities how they are to serve God's honour, and openly drive away heresy."[281]

[281] "Das weltliche Oberkeit," &c., in Luth. "Sämt. Werke." 1545-51, ii. ff. 327-8.

So also did Justus Menius write to urge on an exterminatory persecution of the sectaries; he also argues that "Let both grow together till the harvest," is not to be quoted by the princes as an excuse for sparing lives and properties.[282]

[282] "Von dem Geist d. Widerteuffer." in Luth. "Samt. Werke." 1545-51, ii. f. 325 b.

On the 12th January, 1536, John of Leyden, Knipperdolling, and Krechting were brought back to Münster to undergo sentence of death.[283]

[283] Kerssenbroeck, p. 209; Kurtze Hist. f. 400.

A platform was erected in the square before the townhall on the 21st, and on this platform was planted a large stake with iron collars attached to it.

When John Bockelson was told, on the 21st, that he was to die on the morrow, he asked for the chaplain of the bishop, John von Siburg, who spent the night with him. With the fear of a terrible death before him, the confidence of the wretched man gave way, and he made his confession with every sign of true contrition.

Knipperdolling and Krechting, who were also offered the assistance of a priest, rejected the offer with contempt. They declared that the presence of God sufficed them, that they were conscious of having committed no sin, and that all their actions had been done the sole glory of to God, that moreover they were freely justified by faith in Christ.

On Monday the 22nd, at eight o'clock in the morning, the ex-king of Münster and his companions were led to execution. The gates of the city had been closed, and a large detachment of troops surrounded the scaffold. Outside this iron ring was a dense crowd of people, and the windows were filled with heads. Francis of Waldeck occupied a window immediately opposite the scaffold, and remained there throughout the hideous tragedy.[284] As an historian has well observed, "Francis of Waldeck, in default of other virtues, might at least have not forgotten what was due to his high rank and his Episcopal character; he regarded neither--but showed himself as ferocious as had been John Bockelson, by becoming a spectator of the long and horrible torture of the three criminals."[285] John and his accomplices having reached the townhall, received their sentence from Wesseling, the city judge. It was that they should be burned with red-hot pincers, and finally stabbed with daggers heated in the fire.[286]

[284] Kerssenbroeck, p. 210; Kurtze Hist. f. 400.

[285] Bussierre, p. 462.

[286] Kerssenbroeck, p. 211; Bullinger, lib. ii. c. 10; Montfort., p. 74; Heresbach, pp. 166-7; Hast, pp. 405-6; Kurtze Historia, f. 400.

The king was the first to mount the scaffold and be tortured.

"The king endured three grips with the pincers without speaking or crying, but then he burst forth into cries of, "Father, have mercy on me! God of mercy and loving kindness!" and he besought pardon of his sins and help. The bystanders were pierced to the heart by his shrieks of agony, the scent of the roast flesh filled the market-place; his body was one great wound. At length the sign was given, his tongue was torn out with the red pincers, and a dagger pierced his heart.

Knipperdolling and Krechting were put to the torture directly after the agonies of the king had begun. Knipperdolling endeavoured to beat his brains out against the stake, and when prevented, he tried to strangle himself with his own collar. To prevent him accomplishing his design, a rope was put through his mouth and attached to the stake so as totally to incapacitate him from moving. When these unfortunates were dead, their bodies were placed in three iron cages, and were hung up on the tower of the church of St. Lambert, the king in the middle.[287]

[287] Kerssenbroeck, p. 211; Kurtze Hist. f. 401.

Thus ended this hideous drama, which produced an effect throughout Germany. The excess of the scandal inspired all the Catholic governments with horror, and warned them of the immensity of the danger they ran in allowing the spread of Protestant mysticism. Cities and principalities which wavered in their allegiance to the Church took a decided position at once.

At Münster, Catholicism was re-established. As has been already mentioned, the debauched, cruel bishop was a Lutheran at heart, and his ambition was to convert Münster into an hereditary principality in his family, after the example of certain other princes.

Accordingly, in 1543, he proposed to the States of the diocese to accept the Confession of Augsburg and abandon Catholicism. The proposition of the prince was unanimously rejected. Nevertheless the prince joined the Protestant union of Smalkald the following year, but having been complained of to the Pope and the Emperor, and fearing the fate of Hermann von Wied, Archbishop of Cologne, he excused himself as best he could through his relative, Jost Hodefilter, bishop of Lübeck, and Franz von Dei, suffragan bishop of Osnabrück.

Before the Smalkald war the prince-bishop had secretly engaged the help of the Union against his old enemy, the "wild" Duke Henry of Brunswick. After the war, the Duke of Oldenburg revenged himself on the principality severely, with fire and sword, and only spared Münster itself for 100,000 guilders. The bishop died of grief. He left three natural sons by Anna Polmann. They bore as their arms a half star, a whole star being the arms of Waldeck.

Authorities: Hermann von Kerssenbroeck; Geschichte der Wiederthaüffer zu Münster in Westphalen. Münster, 1771. There is an abbreviated edition in Latin in Menckenii Scriptores Rerum Germanicaum, Leipsig, 1728-30. T. iii. pp. 1503-1618.

Wie das Evangelium zu Münster erstlich angefangen, und die Widerteuffer verstöret widerauffgehöret hat. Darnach was die teufflische Secte der Widerteuffer fur grewliche Gotteslesterung und unsagliche grawsamkeit ... in der Stad geübt und getrieben; beschrieben durch Henrichum Dorpium Monasteriensem; in Luther's Sammtliche Werke. Wittemb. 1545-51. Band ii. ff. 391-401.

Historia von den Münsterischen Widerteuffern.

_Ibid._ ff. 328-363.

Acta, Handlungen, Legationen und Schriften, &c., d. Munsterischen sachen geschehen. _Ibid._, ff. 363-391.

Kurtze Historia wie endlich der König sampt zweien gerichted, &c. _Ibid._ ff. 400-9.

D. Lambertus Hortensius Monfortius, Tumultuum Anabaptistarum Liber unus. Amsterdam, 1636.

Histoire de la Réformation, ou Mémoires de Jean Sleidan. Trad. de Courrayer. La Haye, 1667. Vol. ii. lib. x. [This is the edition quoted in the article.]

Sleidanus: Commentarium rerum in Orbe gestarum, &c. Argent. 1555; ed. alt. 1559.

I. Hast, Geschichte der Wiederthaüffer von ihren Entstehen in Zwickau bis auf ihren Sturz zu Münster in Westphalen Münster. 1836.

* * * * *

_Cowan & Co., Limited, Printers, Perth._

METHUEN'S NOVEL SERIES.

THREE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE.

Messrs. METHUEN will issue from time to time a Series of copyright Novels, by well-known Authors, handsomely bound, at the above popular price. The first volumes (ready) are:--

F. MABEL ROBINSON. 1. THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

S. BARING GOULD, _Author of "Mehalah" &c._ 2. JACQUETTA.

MRS. LEITH ADAMS (_Mrs. De Courcy Laffan_). 3. MY LAND OF BEULAH.

G. MANVILLE FENN. 4. ELI'S CHILDREN.

S. BARING GOULD. 5. ARMINELL: A Social Romance.

EDNA LYALL. 6. DERRICK VAUGHAN, NOVELIST. With Portrait of Author.

F. MABEL ROBINSON. 7. DISENCHANTMENT.

M. BETHAM EDWARDS. 8. DISARMED.

W. E. NORRIS. 9. JACK'S FATHER.

S. BARING GOULD. 10. MARGERY OF QUETHER.

Other Volumes will be announced in due course.

ENGLISH LEADERS OF RELIGION.

Edited by A. M. M. STEDMAN, M.A.

Under the above title Messrs. METHUEN have commenced like publication of a series of short biographies, free from party bias, of the most prominent leaders of religious life and thought in this and the last century.

Each volume will contain a succinct account and estimate of the career, the influence, and the literary position of the subject of the memoir.

The following are already arranged--

CARDINAL NEWMAN. _R. H. Hutton._ [_Ready._

"Few who read this book will fail to be struck by the wonderful insight it displays into the nature of the Cardinal's genius and the spirit of his life."--WILFRID WARD, in the _Tablet_.

"Full of knowledge, excellent in method, and intelligent in criticism. We regard it as wholly admirable."--_Academy._

"An estimate, careful, deliberate, full of profound reasoning and of acute insight."--_Pall Mall Gazette._

JOHN WESLEY. _J. H. Overton, M.A._ [_Ready._

"It is well done; the story is clearly told, proportion is duly observed, and there is no lack either of discrimination or of sympathy."--_Manchester Guardian._

"Admirable alike in tone and style."--_Academy._

BISHOP WILBERFORCE. _G. W. Daniell, M.A._ JOHN KEBLE. _W. Lock, M.A._ CHARLES SIMEON. _H. C. G. Moule, M.A._ F. D. MAURICE. _Colonel F. Maurice, R.E._ THOMAS CHALMERS. _Mrs. Oliphant._ CARDINAL MANNING. _A. W. Hutton, M.A._

_Other Volumes will be announced in due course._

SOCIAL QUESTIONS OF TO-DAY.

_Edited by H. de B. GIBBINS, M.A._

Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.

Messrs. METHUEN beg to announce the publication of a series of volumes upon those topics of social, economic and industrial interest that are at the present moment foremost in the public mind. Each volume of the series will be written by an author who is an acknowledged authority upon the subject with which he deals, and who will treat his question in a thoroughly sympathetic but impartial manner, with special reference to the historic aspect of the subject and from the point of view of the Historial School of economics and social science. The Labour Question will be treated of in the volumes on Trades Unions and Co-operation: the Land Question will form the subject of another two volumes; others will treat of Socialism in England in its various phases, and of the labour problems of the Continent also. The monograph on Commerce will be of special interest at present in view of the recent development of American commercial policy. Those on Education and on Poverty will be of similar importance in view of current discussion, and the volume on Mutual Thrift will prove a valuable survey of the various agencies for that purpose already in existence among the working classes.

_The following form the earlier Volumes of the series:--_

TRADES UNIONISM--NEW AND OLD.

G. HOWELL, M.P., Author of "The Conflicts of Capital and Labour." [_Ready._

"Nothing that Mr. Howell has previously written equals this little book in cogency and _verve_, in lucid statistics and clear argument."--_Manchester Guardian._

"A complete and intelligent history of the rise and modern development of labour organisations. The volume should be read by workers and employers."--_Liverpool Post._

THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT OF TO-DAY.

G. J. HOLYOAKE, Author of "The History of Co-operation. [_Ready._

MUTUAL THRIFT.

Rev. J. FROME WILKINSON, M.A., Author of "The Friendly Society Movement." [_Shortly._

POVERTY AND PAUPERISM.

Rev. L. R. PHELPS, M.A., Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERIES.

Under the above title Messrs. METHUEN have commenced the publication of a series of books on historical, literary, and economic subjects, suitable for extension students and home-reading circles. The volumes are intended to assist the lecturer and not to usurp his place. Each volume will be complete in itself, and the subjects will be treated by competent writers in a broad and philosophic spirit.

Edited by J. E. SYMES, M.A.,

_Principal of the University College, Nottingham._

Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.

_The following volumes are already arranged, and others will be announced shortly._

THE INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

By H. DE B. GIBBINS, M.A., late Scholar of Wadham Coll., Oxon., Cobden Prizeman. With Maps and Plans. [_Ready._

"A compact and clear story of our industrial development. A study of his concise but luminous book cannot fail to give the reader a clear insight into the principal phenomena of our industrial history. The editor and publishers are to be congratulated on this first volume of their venture, and we shall look with expectant interest for the succeeding volumes of the series. If they maintain the same standard of excellence the series will make a permanent place for itself among the many series which appear from time to time."--_University Extension Journal._

"A careful and lucid sketch."--_Times._

"The writer is well-informed, and from first to last his work is profoundly interesting."--_Scots Observer._

A HISTORY OF ENGLISH POLITICAL ECONOMY.

By L. L. PRICE, M.A., Fellow of Oriel Coll., Oxon., Extension Lecturer in Political Economy. [_Ready._

"Mr. Price writes with great clearness, and has succeeded remarkably in conveying in small compass a really readable and instructive account of English political economy."--_Daily Chronicle._

"This book fills an important gap in economic literature."--_Glasgow Herald._

PROBLEMS OF POVERTY: An Inquiry into the Industrial Conditions of the Poor.

By J. A. HOBSON, M.A., late Scholar of Lincoln Coll., Oxon., U. E. Lecturer in Economics. [_Ready._

VICTORIAN POETS.

By A. SHARP.

PSYCHOLOGY.

By F. S. GRANGER, M.A., London, Lecturer in Philosophy at University Coll., Nottingham.

* * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals.

Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed.

Mismatched quotes are not fixed if it's not sufficiently clear where the missing quote should be placed.

The cover for the eBook version of this book was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

Page 60: "On Jaspis remarking to him in April, 1820, that there were circumstances"--The "2" in 1820 was unclear in the book but has been inserted by the transcriber.

Page 106: "ordering the umiiatcirdne Jews to be discharged"--The transcriber has inserted "incarcerated" for "umiiatcirdne".

Page 221: "No envoys from the capital attended the reunion of the chambers at Wollbeck on the 20th December.--The word "of" is unclear.

Page 262: The transcriber has supplied an anchor for footnote 147. "Kerssenbroeck, p. 405 _et seq._ Montfort., "Tumult. Anabap.," p. 15 _et seq._; Bullinger, lib. ii. c. 8."

End of Project Gutenberg's Freaks of Fanaticism, by Sabine Baring-Gould